In an attempt to begin using our water system, I filled the water tank, then started the hot water heater, forgetting to check to see if the heater bypass was in the proper position. It was not. I am not sure how long the hot water heater ran. I placed the bypass valves in the correct position (although one is facing the wrong way) attempting to fill the hot water tank. The pump is running continuously for 6 minutes so I have shut it all down. Now what.

After you have ensured that there is water in the heater tank ( you can do that by connecting to city water and then opening the pressure relief valve ( top centre - pix show it closed and open ) try pressing the heater reset (see pic - there are two buttons and one is the reset ).

Ron,
I did that before starting the hot water heater, mistakenly thinking that that was an indication the hot water tank was full. GB, what outcome am I looking for there? Is it if I get hot water, then I have NOT burned out the element? How long should the pump run to full that 6 gal. tank? I shut it off after 5 minutes.

I'm not saying to run the pump to fill the hot water tank ( I don't know if that will work ). Attach hose to city water inlet and turn it on. Then open the pressure relief valve. When the tank is full water will shoot out ( see second picture ). I let it flow for a couple minutes to remove any trapped air. Then you know your tank is full.
Press the reset button ( to the best of my memory it's the rubber button on the right, could be left, try both ).
Then, when you switch on the water heater, you should hear it light ( it might have to try a couple or three times ). After 15 minutes, turn on a hot water tap and you should have hot water.
My buddy did the same as you and the reset fixed it.

You don't say where you are. Full hookups? No? You are not to run the pump when hooked to city water.

When you say the pump ran 5 or 6 minutes, I would say it only "runs" when you are running water. Otherwise, it is probably not doing anything including not filling your hot water heater. It may make a low droning noise and do nothing.

When you turned the hot water tap on before the heater, did you run it for a while and was the hot water running fine and not spitting? If so, your hot water tank was probably full, but you would have to use the pressure relief valve as Glenn shows to be sure. Had you drained the hot water tank just prior to the trip? Do not check relief valve by pulling on it when the water might be hot.

Is your unit propane only or propane/electric? If propane only then once filled and water is coming out of the hot side, turn on the water heater. If you turned on electric already, then yes your element is probably fried, but your unit should operate off gas only. The pump is running to eliminate air in your lines, Keep the faucets closed and let it run until it shuts off, open the cold and hot lines to eliminate the air and try the water heater lighting cycle again.

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JimIt is not the years in your life but the life in your years Lincoln

I'm not saying to run the pump to fill the hot water tank ( I don't know if that will work )

I don't see how it would matter whether you are using the freshwater tank and pump, or a water hose from a tap ("city water"). The advantage of using the pump is that you can hear whether or not it is running, but it doesn't really matter either way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floating Cloud

When you say the pump ran 5 or 6 minutes, I would say it only "runs" when you are running water. Otherwise, it is probably not doing anything including not filling your hot water heater.

One thing a running pump can be doing is pumping water into the water heater tank, and compressing the air trapped in the tank. That adds water to the tank, but can never more than about two-thirds fill the tank. If there is no faucet or relief valve open to give the air a place to go, it will still be in the tank and water piping.

In other words, yardsale, the pump will not fill the hot water tank with no taps open. I would not assume that the hot water tank is full just because the pump was making some noise. You need to run water. I am assuming you are still in very cold weather and may not want to do outside stuff much.